Clamp for attaching automobile-buffers



J. R. REYBURN.

CLAMP FOR ATTACHING AUTOMGBILE BUFFERS..

APPLICATION FILED JAN-29, |92!- Ptented June 79 MEL I. R. REYBURN. CLAMP FOR ATTACHING AUTOMOBILE BUFFEYRS.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.29, 1921.

Patented June 7, 1921.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

JOHN R. REYBURN, or FAIRFIELD, CCNNECTICT, AssIGNoR To AMERICAN CHAIN COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

CLAMP FOR ATTACI-IING AUTOMBILE-BUFFERS.

To f/Zl yliv/10m it may concern:

lle it known that I, JQHNR. RicYUnN, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Fairfield, in the county of Fairfield, State of Connecticuhhave invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Clamps for Attaching .'-Xutomobile-Bulfers, of which the following, taken in connection with the aC- companying drawings, is a specification.

My invention .relates to automobile buffers, more particularly of the kind that are adaptable for use in attaching the supporting arms of buffers to the type of automobile frame which includes a pair of l0ng1- tudinally disposed channel bars. l

It has for its general object the construction of such an attachment as will maintain under all conditions likely to be encountered in practical use, a rigid, unyielding connection between the frame and the bumper.'

Another object is the construction ofv an attachment for the above expressed purpose which will be characterized by a substantially parallel closing in motion of two cooperating clamping members as tenslon is exerted on one of them.

Another object is the construction of an attachment characterized as last described, in which the tension force exerted in clamp ing is multiplied in the clamping action.

Another-.object is the construction of an attachment composed of parts so proportioned and related as to make the device adaptable for a considerable range of adjustment.

Another object is Ato provide an 'attach.

ment which may be used singly on each channel bar of vthe frame. and at the same itime hold the buffer firmly and rigidly.

Another object is the construction of an attachment for the purposes which, while maintaining a rigid connection with the frame, will, at the same time, per.- mit the bumper arms to be adjusted to positions in different horizontal planes and to be securely held in any position to which;

they are adj-usted.`

Another object is to provide an attachment for the purposes above described which will not slip on the frame to which it is attached, accidentally during normal operation of au automobile or by force of impact on the bumper or otherwise.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the front pori Specification of Letters Patent.

vthe channel l bar.

described Patented June 7, 1921i.

Application filed January 29, .1921. SerialA No. 440,867.

tion of an automobile showing a bumper clamped to the frame by means of my device and also showing theordinary radiator, front wheels and fenders.

Fig. 2 is a section of the line 2-2 of Fig.

6, looking in the direction of the arrows in the latterV figure.

Fig. 3 is a face' view of the member to which the buffer ybar is clamped.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of my device shown attached to a portion of the channel bar.

Fig.' 5 is a plan view of my device showing a supportingarm of a buffer attached' andalso showing the device clamped to an automobile frame.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the view shown in Fig. 5.

In the various figures I sh'ow a wellknown type of automobileframe which includes a pair of channel bars each of which comprises what may be described as the web l, the upper flange 2, and the lower flange 3. In the drawing showing the assemblage of `the parts of my device with an automobile frame (Fig. l), I have shown the device as clamped to the lower flange of Thisis done, however, merely for the reason that in nearly all types ofpresent-day automobiles7 the upper flange is not easily accessible by reason of the presence of splash-pans or fenders or both. It will be clear, however, that the device could, if desired, be attached to one flange as well as to the other and serve its purposes equally well in either. situation.

The characteristic features of the frame clamping means are best shown in Fig. 2. A coupling or clamping member is provided comprising in the particular embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings a pair of hooks 5 and 6 united by a yoke 4 in such manner as to providebetween them a wedging surface 4, In operation the bights of the hooks rest on the flange as shown in Fig. 2. Preferably the portions of the hooks which rest on the flangey are straight and angularly disposed with respect to the wedging surface above referred to. It is pointed out that the particular construction of the hooks which I show is one that I have found especially suitable from 4a manufacturing viewpoint, and that I do not consider the characteristic of a plurality ofhooks-or inclined pitch of the wedging surface material to the full scope of my invention, the esseni tial characteristic being that the hooks shall sustain a surface oppositely disposed with respect to the outer side of a flange which surface will wedgingly co-act with a wedge member, will be hereinafter more fully described.. In other words, the yoke portion 4 virtually constitutes a stirrup which is anchored to the flange by the hooks 5 and 6, and which serves as a support to limit the motion of the wedge member through the passage between the base and the flange and to cause .it to lie firmly and closely against the flange when drawn to the limit of its motion. The clamping of vthe flange is ef'- fected by coperation of the coupling with a 'Wedge-shaped member 7 above referred to, which may, for convenience of inanufacture, constitute a head on the bolt shank 8, the combination of shank 8 and member 7 being termed for convenience the bumper arin support. The wedge-shaped member or bolt head 7 acts between the lower side of the flange 3 'and the wedging surface supported by the hooks, and it is obvious that as tension is exerted on the shank 8 the head 7 will Wedge between the base 4 of the coupling 'and the flange 3 whereby the flangeI 3 will be securely clamped between the bolt head and the bights of the hooks. So long as the tension thus applied is maintained, the parts thus far described constitute a self-supporting combination adaptable for `application to a flange 4of an automobile frame in such manner that there is substantially no lost motion as between the shank and the wedge-shaped head on the one hand and the frame of the automobile on the other.

The rigidity of the attachment may be..

l to conform to the right angle formed by the web and flange 3 of the channel bar. This bearing member may suitably comprise a plate 11 shown in the drawings as diskshaped and provided with an aperture 12 through which the shank may pass and also with a projecting lip 13, the lip 13 and the disk-shaped member forming the rightangle surface referred to. It is obvious that as the plate 11 and the wedge-shaped member are drawn toward each other, additional support is given to the shank by reason of the absence of clearance between the plate 11 and the frame. It is preferable that the lip 13 be of suflicient breadth 'to contact with the flange 3 at points on either side ofl and remote from the bolt aperture. The bumper arm 16 may if desired be supported on the bumper arm support through the medium of a member 14 preferably provided with a channel 15 of suitable width (to receive the bumper arm, and also with an aperture 17l through which the shank 8 may pass. Suitable means for firmly securing the combination of parts together are employed which may consist of the nut 17, and a lock washer, if desi-red, may be interposed between the nut and the bumper arm 16.

It is obvious that the bumper arm together with the member 14 may, particularly when the nut 17 is removed or loosened pivot on the shank 8 while the other parts remain substantially stationary, thus making .it possible to raise and lower the bumper arm to various elevations. By tightening the nut, the plate 14 is clamped to the plate 11 and the bumper may be adjusted to remain permanently in any predetermined position within the limit of its motion. It is upon friction between the member 14 and the bearing plate 11 to maintain the adjust-v ment. To firmly secure the bumper in adjusted position, I therefore prefer to provide the contacting surfaces of the plates with intermeshing radially disposed teeth 18, as is lbest shown in Fig. 3. The presence of these teeth makes it possible to positively adjust the bumper to a large range of angular positions within the limits of its swing.

Having thus described my invention and with the understanding that the changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which nevertheless come within the scope thereof, I claim:

1. Iny an attaching clamp for automobile buffers, a single supporting member provided with a tapered portion and a coupling therefor .adapted-to enga-ge the inner side of a flange of' a channel bar and also to .engage said tapered portion.

2. In an attaching clamp for automobile buffers, a one-piece supporting member provided with a tapered portion and a coupling therefor adapted to engage the inner side of a flange of a channel bar and also to engage said tapered portion.

In an attaching clamp for automobile buffers, a single supporting member consisting of a tapered portion provided with a stem and ra coupling therefor adapted to engage a flange of a channel bar and Valso to engage the said tapered portion.

4. In an attaching'clainp for automobile bull'ers, a shaft `lyiaving a tapered portion rigidly secured i thereto, and a coupling therefor adapted to engage the inner side of' a flange of achannel bar and also to engage said tapered portion.

ln airattaching clamp for automobile bufl'ers, a shaft having a' tapered portion` said taperedl portion being arranged in end to end relation with the shaft, and a coupling thereforadapted to engage the flange of a channel bar and also to engage the said tapered portion.

(5, In an attaching clamp for automobile :assenti buffers, a supporting member consisting of a single element, said element having a tapered portion, and a coupling therefor adapted to engage the flange of a channel bar and also to engage the said tapered portion.

7. In an attaching clamp for automobile buffers, a supporting member which includes a wedge-shaped portion, and a coupling adapted to engage @the inner side of the flange of a channel bar and at the same time to wedgingly retain said wedge-shaped portion against the outer side of said'flange when said supporting meinbei' is so positioned that the taper of said wedge-shaped portion extends from the outer to the inner edge of said flange.

8. In a clamp for attaching buffers to channel bars of automobile frames, a supporting member having a tapered portion decreasing in thickness toward the web of said stirrup into clamping relation with said flange.

10. In an attaching clamp for automobile buffers, a buffer arm supporting member kcomprising a wedge-shaped portion provided vwith a shank, the wedge tapering in the direction of said shank, a stirrup adapt.

ed to be supported from the inner side of a flange of a channel b ar and to wedgingly retain said supporting. member by embracing said wedge-shaped portion, a plate provided with an aperture having a sliding ,fit

I'on said shank, and also with a lip forming a right angle surface with respect to a face of said plate, and means for drawing said. supporting member;y through said stirrup and also said plate into clamping relation with said. flange.

11. In an attaching clamp for automobile buffers, a buffer arm supporting member comprising a wedge-shaped portion piovided with a shank, the wedge tapering in the direction of said shank, a stirrup adapted to be supported from the inner side of a flange of a channel bar and to wedgingly retainl said supporting member by embracingv said wedge-shaped portion, a plate provided with an aperture having a sliding fit oii said shank, and also with a lip forming a right angle surface with respect to a face of said plate, means for ldrawingsaid supporting member through said stirrup and.

also said plate into clamping relation with said flange, said means also serving to draw a bumper arm into clamped relation with said plate.

l2. In an attaching clamp for automobiles, a coupling member including a -hook provided with a straight biglit adapted to lie adjacent the inner side of a flange of a channel bar and a wedging surface siipported by said hook, said wedging surface and said l'iight being converging, a buffer arm support consisting of' a wedge-shaped poition provided with a shank, said wedge shaped portion being adapted to wedgingly fit between said wedging surface and said flange when the parts are, adjusted to a channel bar, and means operating on said shank for drawing the wedge-shaped portion into wedging engagement with said wedging surface and said fiange.

13. In an attaching clamp for automobiles,

a coupling member including a pair of hooks provided with straight bights adapted to engage the inner side of a flange of a cliannel bar and a wedging surface supported byy and between said hooks, said wedging suri face and the plane of' said bights being converging, a buffer arm support consisting of a wedge-shaped portion provided with a shank, said wedge-shaped ,portion being adapted to wedgingly fit between said wedging surface and said flange when the parts are adjusted to a channel bar, and a nut on said shank f'or drawi'ngthe wedge-shaped gement with said portion into' wedging engag wedgiiig surfaceand said Harige.

14. In an attaching clamp for automo biles, a coupling member including a hook provided with a virtually straight bight adapted to engage the inner side of a flange of a channel bar and a wedging surface supported by said hook, said wedging surface and said bight being con'gerging, a buffer arm support consisting of'a wedge-shaped portion'provided with a shank, a bearing plate presenting a right angle surface adapted to inclose an angle of said channel bar and provided withan aperture whereby itis adapted to slidingly fit on said shank, a second plate also provided with an aperture whereby it isadaptcd to slidingly fit on said shank and to lio adjacent the bearing plate, and means operating on said shank foi drawing the parts together into clamping relation with a iaiige and a bumper arm. I

l5. In .an attaching clamp for automobile buffers, a buffer arm support having a wedge-shaped portion, a coupling having a hook portion adapted to engage the inner side of a flange of' a channel bar and also a -portion adapted to'embrace the said wedgesliaped portion When the same is positioned adjacent to the outer side of-said flange and transversely thereof, a bearing plate carried by said support and presenting a right Aangle surface adapted to conform to an angle of said channel bar, a second plate carried by said support and adapted to lie vagainst the first, said second plate being proing the said plates together.

16. An attaching device for automobile buffers comprising a buffer arm support consisting of a bolt provided with a wedgeshaped head and a threaded shank, a coupling adapted to engage the inner side of a` flange of a channel bar and to embrace said head Awhen the said bolt is adjacent to the outer side of said flange, a bearing plate provided with an aperture through which said shank may pass and also with an antislippi-ng face, a lip projecting from the opposite face of said plate and presenting a surface at right angles to said opposite face, and a second plate also provided with a similar aperture, one face of said plate being adapted to engage said anti-slipping face and the opposite face being provided with a transverse groove adapted to receive a bumper arm.

17. An attaching device for automobile buffers comprising a buffer arm support consisting of a bolt provided with a wedgeshaped head and a threaded shank, a coupling adapted to engage the inner side of a flange of a channel bar and to embrace said head when the said bolt is adjacent to the outer side of said flange, a bearing plate provided with an aperture through which said shank may pass and also with an antislipping face, a lip projecting from the opposite face of said plate and presenting a surface at right angles to said opposite face, and a second plate also provided with a similar aperture, one face of said plate being adapted to engage said anti-sliliping face and the opposite face being provided with a transverse groove adapted to receive a bumper arm, and a nut on said shank for drawing the parts together into clamping relation with a bumper arm and a flange of a channel l`ar.

18. ln an attaching clamp for' automobile buffers, a buffer ai'm support having a wedge-shaped portion adapted to be positioned transversely against the outer side of a flange in an automobile trainen a coupling adapted to ei'igage the inner side of said llange and to embrace said wedge-shaped portion when thus positioned, a bearing plate carried by said support and presenting a right angle surface to fit an angle of a channel bar, and means ffor rotatablyv mounting a bufl'er arm on said support.

19. In an attaching clamp for automobile buffers, a coupling provided with a hook end adapted to engage the inner side of a flange of a channel bar with a wedging surface supported by said hook and adapted when thus supported to be positioned in opposed relation to the outer side ot said flange, a bearing plate presenting a right angle surface adapted to be adjusted to the angle of said channel bar adjustment to said flange, and\a wedge member adapted to wedgingly it between said wedging surface and the said Outer side of said flange, said wedge member terminating iii a shank adapted to be connected with said bearing plate, and means operating on said shank Yfor drawing said coupling and said bearing plate into clamping relation with each other on said channel bar.

20. In an attaching clamp for automobile buffers, a coupling provided with a hook end adapted to engage the inner side of a flange of a channel bar with a wedging surface supported by said hook and opposed to the outer side of said flange and spaced therefrom where the said hook is thus engaged, a bumper arm support comprising a wedge member and a shank therefoigsaid wedge member being-adapted to wedgingly lit between said liange and said wedging surface, and said shank being adapted to lie transversely of said flange and extend beyond the angle of said channel bar when said wcdging member is in such wedging relation, a bearing plate adapted to receive the projecting end of said shank and'means operating on said shank for drawing the above mentioned parts into clamping relation with each other on a channel bar.

21. In an attaching clamp for automobile buffers, a coupling provided with a hook end adapted to engage the inner side of a flange of a channel bar with a wedging surface supported by said hook and `opposed to the outer side of said flange and spaced therefrom where the said hook is thus engaged, a bumper arm support comprising a Wedge member and a shank therefor, said `wedge member being adapted to wedgingly fit between said flange and said wedging surface, and said shank being adapted to lie transversely of said flange and extend beyond the angle of said channel bar when said wedging member is in such wedgingrelation, a bearing plate adapted to receive a bumper arm retaining member adapted to be rotatably mounted on said shank andin frictional contact with said bearing plate and means operating on said shank for drawing the above mentioned parts into clamping relation with each other on a channel bar. f

22. ln a clamp for attaching automobile buffers, a wedge-shaped member adapted to be positioned against the outer side of a flange of a channel bar, a couplingmember adapted to engage the inner side of 'said fiange and also said wedge-shaped member, a shaft Connected with, one of said members, a bearino' plate adapted to be posiiened againstiue web of said channel' bar and through .which said sha'f; is adaped to pass., a bui'er arin retaining mein fivofiaiiy mounted on said shaft and adapted @Lo be positioned in Geni-act with. said bearing mena ber and means for drawing said shaft hrongh said bearing member and said buferarin retaining member and 1the same time forcing said Wedgashaped mein-- ber into Wedging engagement between said coupling and said iiange. v

23, in an ataching damp for au'onlobiie buii'ers a bearing piae adapied to positioned against the outer surface oi the 'web oi' a channel bar7 a buffer arm reaining rnenibr adapted io be posiioned in eontaei with .said bearing member, a shaft passing through both said members, and on which said buier arm retaining member is pivot,- ally mounted, said shafil having a `hr'eaded end and projecting beyond said retaining '1ne1nber, a Wedgeshaped member Conneet-- ed to said shaft and adapted *ao be positioned against the outer side of a iiange of said ehanne bar a cou line ada'ited io en-4 gage the inner side of' said flange and also said Wedge-shaped member, and a nut on4 said 'threaded end for forcing said ceupiing and said Wedgeehaped member into wedging relation with said fiange.

24. In a eiainp for attachingautomobiie buffersi a 'bearing piate adaped to be posieioned she order surface of the web of a eiiannei bar, a buffer arrn retaining niemeer adaped to be posiioned in Contact with said bearing plate, he coni-aeiing 'suri'iares of Said Piate and said member being serra'ied inaeing. a shaft vpassing hrongh said nieinber and said pia'e1 a si'irrup adapted te be supported by engagement with 1the inner surface of a flange or' said channel bar, a wedge-shaped member engaged by said seirrup said Wedge-shaped member being adaped to be "positioned againsethe outer side .of said Harige and transversely therewi, and means operating on said shaft Vor forcing said Wedge-shaped member ino wedging engagement between said stirrup and said 25, in a clamp for attaching automobile buffers, a shaf. a bearing plate on said shaft adapied to Contact with che web of a channel bar, means earriedvby said shafv4 for adjustably att-aching a buffer bar thereo, a Wedge-shaped member-adapted .to be positioned against the outer side of a iange of said channei bar, a coupling adapted to engage Jdie inner side of sa'id 'flange and also said Wedgeshaped member and means for forcing said bearing plate" against said Web and als@ said Wedge-shaped member and said coupling into Wedging engagement with said iange.

in testimony Wiliereof, have signed this speciicaion.

JHN R. REYBURN. 

